Original subtitles

Asmik Ace Entertainment, IMJ Entertainment,

Nippon Television Network Corporation SDP & Culture Publishers present

an Asmik Ace Entertainment /IMJ Entertainment production

In 1958,

a gay bar opened its doors

in a Ginza back alley

It was called Himiko

As its fame grew in gay circles, on the night club scene

and among the cultural elite,

the bar became a Ginza legend

In 1985,

the first "proprietress" retired with cirrhosis

Yoshida Teruo, age 40, who exploded on the scene like a comet,

took over as proprietress

Thanks to her charming wit rivaling her predecessor, the bar flourished,

but she suddenly retired in 2000

The bar closed down, too

Two months later, in Kanagawa Prefecture

a home for the elderly quietly opened

near Oura Beach

LA MAISON DE HIMIKO

What? No way

It's been 2 years

About that long

Yamaoka san was here

The one with those fat calves?

Exactly

We used to use the same shampoo

Every time I passed her, she smelled like my bath

Whenever I took a shower, I dreamed she was beside me, naked, too

You've got a wild fantasy life

Which shampoo do you use?

That was harassment

Phone Sex Operators - 35,000 Yen

Yoshida san!

You got some calls

While you were out, about 3

From Kaito Construction, Ikemoto Trading and...

From Kishimoto Haruhiko

The message?

Kaito Construction said...

Not that one

Kishimoto Haruhiko

Oh, the usual He asked to speak to Yoshida Saori

So I said you weren't available

I told him not to call you anymore I did tell him that

Long day!

Welcome back

Yoshida

A guest

Out front Name's Kishimoto, or something

No use showing up here

So, he's got cancer or it's terminal, it's nothing to me

Hurry up and die, is what I say

Conversation finished, don't come back

I'll pay you

Money

You know this place, right?

The old people's home your father built for gays 5 years ago

Could you help out there part-time?

Work one day a week on Sunday and you get...

I know you're stuck for money

You're checking out phone sex operator ads at work, right?

The girl who answered the phone

told me all kinds of stuff

I've thought it all through

I know you stopped speaking to him a long time ago,

and you'd hardly consider looking after him

But this is just a part-time job

30,000 Yen a day, helping out at the home

It's not such a bad offer, is it?

Besides, there's the inheritance...

Right?

What is it?

Why do you go to such lengths for him?

Because he's precious

Because I love him

Hello

What do you want, sister?

Hello

Are you watching

"Lady Lawyer Mystery Files?"

That's right

It's already started

You already watched it...

Record it yourself...

That Takao san?

No, Ruby

This series is endless

Hasn't the lady lawyer gone back to her husband?

No

I'm going home

Hey, hey, wait

The money went to my head

Calm down, you made it this far

Calm down!

Have a seat

He rarely leaves his room, now

He's on a higher dose of morphine

He was still healthy when he bought this place

Wait a minute...

You the new part-timer?

I'm Himiko, a pleasure

Perfect timing

We're having brunch

A Sunday tradition

We all bring our favorite foods

Pancakes with seasonal fruit

Steaming hot rice with salted river fish

Everyone will share

Are you...

by any chance...

Serve the salad

Chubby!

Poses!

Want some pickled turnips?

What a creep

I'll come back as a ballerina

Not the owner of a sumo wrestler?

A ballerina when I'm single,

and a sumo wrestler owner once I marry

Ruby, this is the new part-timer, Yoshida Saori

Ruby and Yamazaki

Nice to meet you

She's a transsexual Still needs some more work up here

Honey,

a cow with attitude is worse than an aging queen

Ruby!

She's dreadful

Even with part-timers,

I thought I told you to hand-pick our employees

This is not just any old-age home

Have you still not got that through your head?

Besides, this isn't my scene

I may have one foot in the grave,

but I'm not so far gone as to find this farce thrilling

What farce is that?

Beats me

Are you OK?

You had to come a long way

Do you need go back to your room?

Just a little dizzy spell

Don't fool yourself

I'm only here because your man promised to pay me

Hosokawa Painters

Huh? That's bullshit!

I told you, Yamada's in charge of the project! Give me a break!

About the new secretary, the interviews...

This one and this

Please don't choose based on photos

Hey, Daisuke

Yes

Which of these girls...

I said, no!

You choose, then

Hello, get in touch with Yamada

Decide for yourself

Quit bugging me!

This one

Why?

Because I bet she has fat thighs

Honey, I hear you're in debt?

Ruby...

What kind of debt?

Which is better? A cow with debts or with venereal disease?

My mother died 3 years ago...

Because her useless jerk of a husband ditched her years ago

I heard she had cancer

Atypical housewife,

learns from her husband that he's a queen,

who chucks her away like garbage

All by herself,

she worked like a dog, raised her kids and keeled over

She got cancer because she was miserable

Yes, so?

I had to borrow from all our relatives to pay

her medical costs

Satisfied?

I had no idea

Of course

You're a total stranger

Question! Miss, are you a lesbian, too?

When two girls do it, do you use a vibrator?

How old are you, Miss?

You fucking brats!

Shit, the queens are fighting back

You virgins get home and masturbate!

Homo, homo, homo!

Homo!

We shouldn't laugh

Are you OK?

You're a virgin...

"Who knows where this queer's hands have been!

"A man, where? There?

"Oh no! Disgusting! Filthy!"

Virgins are such idiots

Cut it out, Ruby My stomach aches

Himiko's daughter, a virgin at her age?

Don't make me laugh

How dare you!

How can I touch a filthy faggot's hand!

You! That's called anti-gay discrimination

You discriminate against another human being!

My watermelon...

It's like "piki piki picky!"

No, not like that

That's incomprehensible

See, you hurt your hips, like "piki piki picky!"

You'll just break your pelvis that way

Lousy

Damn you! Hey!

That bitch pisses me off!

She called me lousy

I think we're all getting hungry, now

Shut up! This is the good part

Me... lousy...

Listen...

Ruby wants...

Ask her yourself

I am not a virgin!

That's not it?

I'm sorry about the other day

I must've been cranky from my period

Just kidding! My period days are over

Just get on with it

Shut up! There's an order to these things

What does "piki piki picky" mean?

You said we were lousy at it

Answer me!

Listen, despite my looks, I was married, once

Oh, no, I've heard this 100 times

I've heard it 500

Youthful folly

I thought I could make it as a man,

I really tried

I even forced myself to make a baby, a son

Haven't seen him since he was 5

But my ex-wife kept me posted

He graduated college and went to work for the city

A real bureaucrat, impressive, huh?

He's all married and has a child

A girl, I believe

Don't make me laugh My very own granddaughter

Teeny tiny hands and teeny tiny legs

So, so cute, right?

You've never even seen her

No, but she's a child so of course her hands and legs are teeny tiny

But my ex-wife died 2 years ago

At the time I thought that was the end of that

No contact at all

But then, but see...

Last November 12th, I got a postcard

Out of the blue

The whole postcard was covered with "piki piki picky"

But there was no return address

I'm sure it came from my cute granddaughter

Of course, it was your granddaughter

But if a 7 year old can only write "piki piki picky," she may be stupid

I used to teach elementary school

Usually, by age 7, they're beyond that

I don't care if she's dumb

So cute

She may be dumb, but she wrote to me,

"piki piki picky!"

2,000 Yen

What for?

You're quite the operator

All right, I'll pay

It's the magic spell From the anime, "Rainbow Warrior"

Magic? I knew it was magic

I see... A spell to help her meet me,

"piki piki picky," like that

"We don't really want to fight!

"All right, last resort!"

All right, last resort!

You really resemble her

Hey, good morning

Oh, this?

Our sponsor is visiting

He used to also be the president of the company

where I worked

Apparently he also invested in Himiko's old bar

I thought she died 3 years ago

She did not die!

She sent me a new years' card

I see

Well, how about the one who became president,

of that something-or-other bank...

Oh, um, Saito

Saito-san's fine and well

Saito san's just fine

When Tachikawa san passed, she had a company funeral

Good for her, a company funeral

The day I retired,

he gave me a pamphlet about this place out of the blue...

I'd never discussed my sexuality

with him, not once

No, I knew

The president had a fine family,

but there was just something...

Are you sure about Himiko?

She was looking forward to it

I don't like sick people

Even Himiko,

if she's dying, I have no interest

I came today about money

I've always

donated money to this home,

for Himiko's sake

But she's dying

In other words, I'll have no more reason to help

You're going to stop contributing?

That's what I was thinking

However,

when I learned today, that a man of your beauty,

would be taking over the directorship...

Let's see...

What to do

Get in

Chubby wants you

Says it's time for dinner

When'd you get back?

Did you do it? With that dirty old man?

Barf-city

It's not like I'm only into older men

But Himiko used to date him, so I did have expectations

But he's lousy in the sack...

You're the worst!

But at least the home will be safe for a while

Perverts Die! Wipe Out Homos!

I hate those fucking brats!

Horrible...

I'll drown them in the sea

Your blood pressure

Shut up! What's this!

"Perverts Die" "Homos"

Dammit! What's that symbol?

So, your father runs Kishimoto Construction?

Please give my regards to your father

I'll give it to him

I assumed you were Yoshida's boyfriend

Not at all

Figured she got real lucky

I'm not interested in women

And you?

Me?

Don't men ever come on to you?

Yeah, in college,

a guy on the football team suddenly pinned me down

He said "This won't hurt"

I said, "The hell it won't" and took off

Should've joined the "This won't hurt" team

Didn't have the slightest interest

He was an awful big guy...

What about me, then?

Just kidding

Shouldn't make fun of straights

Sankyo University's Gay Circle,

"Nuts"

I'm Aoyama Toshihiko, the leader

Toshi!

We're hoping to have plenty of fun with you today

Now,

for our "Nuts" specialty, "Sliding Noodles"

You're so cool, Toshi!

Here goes

Oh, I missed it!

Oh, it's gone!

Oh, no, I can't grab it

They're hopeless

Saori

It's delicious

Thank you

These are organic vegetables we've grown in class

Wow, amazing

We wanted you to eat them

So, is yours about this size?

Mine's more like this

This is fine, I don't care

You're very modest for your age Do you have a boyfriend?

Sorry for you... Me

Don't tell me, you?

Isn't he cute? Keep your hands off

What color? What color?

What color? What color?

Will you shut up!

Black

Oh my, so shiny

Just like seaweed! Like seaweed!

Just like seaweed!

Wow, amazing!

Isn't this nice? I embroidered it myself

When something bad would happen at work,

I'd go like this... and look at it a lot

...chairman concealed the assets...

Do you have any for Himiko?

According to the Tokyo Prosecutor's office,

the suspect, Handa, concealed

some 2 billion yen in assets by October, 2003,

evading some 700 million yen in taxes

We interviewed Handa, before his arrest

about his relationship with Kamimura

Kamimura testified that you were involved

I know nothing

Former auditor, Kamimura, testified

that the assets were concealed in subsidiaries, some abroad...

Things just got a little complicated...

I've never shown anyone

Don't make fun of my taste

Please, come in

Saori, I'll make us some tea

That's my newest creation

A dress to wear in my coffin

When I'm dead,

I won't have to look in the mirror and regret

how odd I look in a dress

It'll be my first and last dress

But I don't mind I swear I'll come back as a woman

How wonderful it will be to wear

whatever I want

When I consider that, I'm not even scared to die

Just because you're a woman...

What?

There's still stuff you can't wear

Such as?

A Bunny outfit

Bunny outfit?

I decided I'd make money in that line of work

I cried and cried and made up my mind

But when I got to the interview, the manager

Looked me up and down

and said, "Oh, you'll never be a Bunny"

So?

I didn't get the job

Ruby, you're missing the show

I got a little carried away

Lookin' good!

Bring it on!

Bring it on, boys!

Go watch, Ruby

Ruby?

Ruby

Ruby!

He's had a stroke

He'll be totally paralyzed

You mean in a vegetative state?

Well, yes

But that's...

Once he's stabilized he can leave the hospital

But we can't bring him back here

We're kicking Ruby out?

We'll find another place

We're not set up to care for her here

But that's...

Let's all look after her, take turns, right?

Impossible, the elderly can't look after the elderly

Can't we hire a caregiver?

Spending that kind of money, we'll go under

Don't you have a heart!

Just listen...

Listen up and get this

If we kick Ruby out now,

it means this punk'll throw all of us out, when the time comes

He's pitiless

Why don't you try to reach his son?

That's right, that's it!

Maybe he'll come and take him

But wait, his son doesn't know Ruby's a queen

So we won't tell him!

We don't even know whether Ruby'll ever speak again

If we keep our mouths shut, nobody else has to know

I suppose...

Impossible

Because Ruby had the operation

Someone will have to see to her needs

What?

I don't need my inheritance

What?

I don't need this jerk's money

I give up my rights

Use that money

There is no...

inheritance

Liar

When I bought this place,

I spent my entire fortune

Unbelievable

What a mess

We might as well just shut...

this place down

The truth is, when I learned I had cancer, I thought

it was time to close this place down

What's that?

What's with you?

Why do you always do this?

You made this place

Everyone came here, counting on you

Now there�s a problem so you shut it down?

How dare you

This man is a monster

This is exactly the way he abandoned us!

That's enough

You hold your tongue

You started this

This isn't so bad, just be quiet and listen

All right

Go on

Oh, hell

I said I'm sorry I lied to you...

But I was desperate then...

He saw right through me

I'd rather die

I'm sorry

He's exactly right

You should shut this place down

I've always been alone...

Until I met Himiko...

So I don't want to shut it down

I'm still alone...

Do you know anything?

About this picture?

No

This picture just isn't possible

The woman in the middle is my mother

My mother supposedly had nothing to do with him from when

she divorced him, at 27 until she died

So what's this?

That ridiculous hat

I bought it for her 40th birthday,

with all the allowance I'd saved

What's a picture of her in that hat doing here?

- Welcome back - It's hot

Enjoy these

- Great - Thanks

Iced tea?

Enjoy

This tastes good

Hello, Hosokawa Painters

Me

What?

I'll pay you

Would you please come?

What?

Himiko...

threw up a lot...

A lot of blood

She threw up here

So much blood

Does the smell of blood ever come out?

I washed it so many times

This whole room stinks

I'm...

going to have dinner with Hosokawa san

Do you think I'll get him into bed?

Impossible

I've seduced two straight guys before...

Cut it out

He may be able to hear you

I want to feel desire

It doesn't matter what

Like a mad food craving,

or "Gotta fuck him or I'll die"

I want intense desire

Being here,

watching him slowly die,

I can't imagine wanting to live

What's the point of love?

It's about desire

That's all there is

That's what I want...

Yoneda, you know that Sasagawa Construction stuff...

Yoneda?

She quit

See?

Great shot

Next time, I'll kill you

Now, scram

Please...

guard that with your life

It's my client list from when I ran the bar

Contact all of them,

and ask for donations

I think,

that's the only way

I know, I know

If that doesn't work,

just shut the place down

Himiko, enough Be quiet

Funerals

Ever since,

so many things happened so fast...

I thought living with the others,

I wouldn't have to be lonely

But I was wrong

It's like I'm just waiting for my turn,

as I watch each one go...

Delivery for Yamazaki san

Saori

Don't be mad

I know the timing's all wrong, but I bought it...

for you

No

No

Turn around

One, two, three

That was fun

So much

Why care whether things look good or not

I've betrayed the chastity I was saving for my funeral dress

Chastity's made for betrayal

I know

Let's go play!

I'll let them go play nearby

No...

What?

No

No

I'll go take a look

It's all right, it is

No, it's not

I'm such a fool to get carried away

What idiot would want to go on a date with an old queen like me?

Hey, why? Hey, wait

Wait!

Saori, please!

Let me go back to my room

Hadn't worn it in a while...

Let me go back

Please, let me go back to my room

"I want you to get dressed to escort the ladies!"

Himiko had a fit

Haruhiko called and said to get dressed quick

We all just panicked

Welcome

We're 7

Please this way

One of you get up and dance

First, a little something to eat

Excuse me, waiter

Saori

What?

Will you come to the restroom with me?

I've never used a ladies' room before

I've always dreamed

of fixing my make-up in a ladies' room mirror

Yamazaki san

What's up?

What?

Let's go

Yamazaki san! You are Yamazaki san!

What happened?

I knew it, you were a queen

Branch manager!

Let me get a good look

Stop that

Great! This is just great!

Hey, this is Yamazaki san,

who was the branch manager way before me

He was always so swishy,

we all thought he was queer

And look, turns out he's a queen!

Stop it!

Isn't that right! Yamazaki san!

Are you OK?

Did you see that? How he fell? Like a sissy

Isn't it creepy? Like a sissy

How dare you!

What the hell?

Apologize

You cow!

I said, apologize

No, I won't!

Enough you fucking jerk! Apologize! Now!

Apologize at least once!

I refuse

Yamazaki san, are you OK?

- Please - Move!

Apologize!

Hey, Yamazaki!

I'll make sure to tell the whole damned company about this!

All of your former staff will be shocked! Serves you right!

Apologize!

I will not

You idiot!

I'll slug you! I swear I'll slug you!

What the hell are you doing!

That bastard!

- Calm down! - That bastard!

Die, bastard!

Calm down

I can't let the bastard get away with that!

Give me a break, all of you

C'mon, dance

Hey, no!

What is this!

How old are you?

How old?

24

You're younger than me?

I thought you were older

Until we meet again

'til we see each other again

Let's not talk about

why we have to part

There's only sadness

There's only emptiness

We both hurt each other

and lose everything

Together we'll close the door

Together we'll erase our names

When we do

our hearts will tell us why

What are you doing?

Kissing

Why?

Um... Masaki san

Cherries

None for me

Um...

Have you ever done it with a woman?

Yes... I have

How was it?

Well, let's see

How to put this...

It was a very...

valuable,

yes, a valuable experience in my life

Right after I had started teaching

She was also a teacher, 3 years older than me

What was she like?

How to put this...

She was exceedingly...

ugly

Awful

Whenever she laughed I could see her gold teeth

For someone with gold teeth, she was a cheat about money

She got me good

This room?

I'll loan it to you... but why?

I'll change the sheets

So beautiful

I never noticed while I could eat them

It's almost a jewel

Eating a jewel is the height of luxury

Eat it

Eat one for me, too

I don't have...

what you want, do I?

Today?

I can't

I have stuff to do today

Please wait

I'm rude to talk while I'm

brushing my teeth,

but calling me on a holiday to come in to work

is pretty damned rude?

After the All Souls holiday, I'll come back to practice

But if you don't want to be friends with me anymore,

there's nothing I can do

See ya

What?

I'll help you

I'll help

Saori san, please

This is my mother,

father,

my oldest sister and her husband,

my second oldest brother's wife...

I can't remember all that

Song Book

Every year, on All Souls Night we get together and sing

This year, we're missing Himiko and Ruby,

but we have a new, sweet soprano I can't wait

I'm an alto

Ruby, I swear I'll come visit you

Are cosmetics flammable trash?

Inflammable

Photos burn, right?

Let's let him keep the photos

These?

Maybe not

Postcards

Unused?

Written, just not sent

Then, they'll give your money back at the post office

Piki piki picky

In the old days, when sugar was expensive,

we made "ohagi", sweet rice balls, with salt

But they tasted good at the time

Oh, a little rounder, please

Oh, you're getting the hang of it

Eggplants are cows,

cucumbers are horses

What is that? A sacrifice?

We don't make sacrifices to our ancestors

Indeed,

the souls that return on All Souls Day ride back on these

Makes for an easier trip home

Those...

gloves...

I gave your mother...

on her 40th birthday

She...

really loved

the hat you gave her

It suited her so well and she looked so happy...

I took her picture

You used to see her?

Yes

One day,

she just appeared at the bar

After that, sometimes...

We had so much fun

Your mother

always dressed to the nines

Pisses me off

How dare she die without telling me?

Screw "dressed to the nines"

She was always piss poor

But...

that's what

made her so charming

Any regrets?

About what?

Throwing away career and family,

to live as nothing but a scruffy queen?

Put that way,

I'd have to say no

You've no gift for questions

Then...

Then...

ever regret making mother suffer?

Did you ever miss me?

Did you ever cry because you couldn't see me?

Mother...

After her mind went, before she died,

she thought I was you

And she was wildly happy

She was so perky

It made me sick

I won't forgive you

for what you did to mother

I can't forgive you

An exceedingly

appropriate conclusion

But then...

in that case...

may I say something?

What?

I...

Love you

What's that!

"We don't really want to fight!"

"All right, last resort!"

Sugimura san, see you

Be well

Ruby!

What is this?

Hey,

did they come and get Ruby without knowing she's a queen?

Yeah

But you know they'll find out You even said so

It's a gamble

A gamble

If they find out she's a queen, they may send her back here

But maybe, they'll decide to keep her

Even if it's only a chance in hell, it was worth taking

But wait, why'd you have to trick them?

There's no time

If we waited for him to accept

his father as a queen before he took her, Ruby would be dead

You know that better than anyone

Let Ruby die alone

That's her punishment

For abandoning her family and pleasing her own damned self

Why dump her on her son now?

How much

agonizing and suffering have you inflicted on her son, now?

You're just scared!

You wanted to dump Ruby on her son so you'd feel better

You're disgusting!

Your homo egos make my skin crawl!

This doesn't concern you

This is a home for gays

This is a place for gays to find happiness

This place is a lie

It's fake

Get out

I thought you were busy

Is that all?

Oh, I know

Where's the estimate for the Kawasaki residence?

I gave it to you

When?

The other day

I mean...

what is this?

It's all over your face, too

Ohagi

What's "ohagi?"

You can lick it, it�s sweet

Thank you very much for dinner

Going home?

Excuse me

Take care

I'm sure Saori will come back

We made these together

She hasn't even tried one...

Songs my mother taught me

In the days long vanished

Seldom from her eyelids

Were the teardrops banished

Now I teach my children

Each melodious measure

Why are you holding back?

Make some noise

You're wrong

I'm not crying for

any reason you can imagine

You're really taking everything?

Why?

I'll sell what I can

Chuck the rest

Can't I even have a keepsake, then?

No

Why not?

You'll move on to the next guy soon enough

Hey

Let me, to the bus stop

I had dinner with Hosokawa san

You slept with him?

He was drunk so he filled me in on all the details

I felt a little jealous

Not of you...

of him

Well...

Guess we won't see each other again

I said, just a kiss

You have to stamp the paperwork

I'm heading home first

Long day

Shall I leave the heat on?

- Bye - Bye

We need another estimate on this one

The same place we painted this summer

Apparently they have more graffiti

Can I have a kiss?

No

How 'bout me, then?

I said, no

And me?

You, yes

Hey, why?

Because

You'll stay for tea, right? We made ohagi

It's a day to celebrate

Come

Come

Let me see the paperwork

Right

Here

WE WANTTO SEE SAORI PIKI PIKI PICKYI

Haruhiko Odagiri Joe

Saori Shibasaki Kou

Himiko Tanaka Min

Hosokawa Nishijima Hidetoshi

Ruby Utazawa Toraemon

Yamazaki Aoyama Kira

Masaki Yanagisawa Shinichi

Takao Inoue Hirokazu

Kijima Moriyama Jyunkyu

Kikue Yochan

Chubby Murakami Hiroki

Directed by Inudo Isshin

Written by Watanabe Aya

Music by Hosono Haruomi

Produced by Kubota Osamu & Ogawa Shinji

Executive Producers Shiina Yasushi &Miki Hiroaki

Co-Executive producers Hirai Hirofumi, Hosono Yoshiro & Shimamoto Masashi

Line Producer Taguchi Hijiri

Cinematographer Tsutai Takahiro

Production Designer Isoda Norihiro

Lighting Designer Hikita Yoshitake

Sound Shima Junichi

Editor Abe Hirohide

Costume Designer Kitamura Michiko

English Subtitles Linda Hoaglund

2005 LA MAISON DE HIMIKO Film Partners